DBKK: Local fruit festivals on the cards
Published on: Tuesday, February 20, 2024
By: Crystal E Hermenegildus
Sabin (left) and Abidin jointly launching the Id Pogimpaan homestay.
Kota Kinabalu: City Hall plans to hold local fruit festivals at four registered homestays around the city under its supervision to attract more domestic and foreign tourists.
Mayor Datuk Dr Sabin Samitah said the four homestays are Desa Cinta Kobuni, Id Kalangadan, Darau Wetland and most recently Id Pogimpaan, which are all under its Community-Based Tourism (CBT) initiative.
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He said there would be a detailed discussion in the near future between DBKK and several related agencies, including the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama), for this effort.
“We see that holding fruit festivals in these areas can potentially attract tourists to visit homestays, while simultaneously introducing a new tourism product that can be commercialised and integrated with existing offerings, thereby increasing the income of homestay operators.
“For example, the Id Pogimpaan homestay area in Kampung Binaung Baru, Manggatal, is famous for its attractive scenery and has an existing fruit farming area, which can achieve our desired goal,” he said when launching the Id Pogimpaan Homestay here, on Saturday.
Sabin said DBKK would make sure the proposal could be implemented, considering it is part of the seven strategies involving 16 programmes carried out and would be carried out by City Hall.
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He said the objectives of this programme is to improve the socio-economics of the local community through involvement in tourism activities by diversifying and upgrading various tourism products and being able to conserve natural resources while maintaining the heritage and culture of the local community.
Meanwhile, he said the Id Pogimpaan Homestay is a new attraction for foreign tourists who want to experience staying in a village-style homestay.
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He said it has a lot of potential and opportunity to be developed as a source of additional income for the city community and further contribute to the State’s economic development.
“The first homestay in the programme to be registered under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (Motac) was Desa Cinta Kobuni in 2017, followed by Id Kalangadan in 2020, Darau Wetland in 2022 and now Id Pogimpaan in 2023.
“This effort shows that City Hall consistently supports the development of homestay programmes, ensuring their competitiveness in the tourism industry and indirectly enhancing the community’s economy, particularly in the city area,” he said.
Sabin also advised the programme’s homestay operators and committee members to focus on three matters when it comes to managing the homestays.
Firstly, to ensure the aspect of cleanliness and beauty in each homestay village so that they become an attraction for tourists and customers who want to visit the area.
Secondly, to multiply the number of unique events in each homestay village to be enjoyed by tourists.
Thirdly, to increase promotional efforts to introduce the homestay areas to domestic and foreign tourists.
“On behalf of DBKK, I am ready to help in the three matters to ensure the Id Pogimpaan Homestay and the other existing homestays increase the number of tourists to the areas,” he said.
Also present was Inanam Assemblyman Peto Galim.
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